Improvement in balanced valves



2 haetsnheet J. W. GARBN ER, T. W. RANSN, 8L E. MARR N.

Baia'nced Valves.

- kPatented Dec. 3,1872.

2 Sheets" Sheet 2. J. G AR D N E R, T. W. RAN SON, & E. MARTI N.

Balanced Valv s Patented Dec. 3, i87'2.

@avena-Zaza' f 2in/ended;

of the city ot' Cleveland, in the State of Ohio,

chest.

rrEs

` JonN W. GARDNER., THOMAS W. 'nANsoN, AND EDWIN MARTIN, OE

cLEvELAND, OHIO. l

IMPROVEMENT iN B'ALANCED VALVES.

To all whom it may concern g Be it known that we, JOHN W. GARDNER,THOMAS W. RANsON, and EDWIN MARTIN, all

have invented a. new Improvement in Valves and ValveMotion, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to secure a full and instant throw ofthe main valve at the commencement of every stroke of the piston whileworking under or against increasing pressure, thus securing a fullsupply of steam tothe cylinder Whether the pressure be light or heavy.This invention consists in the combination with each other within asteam-chest oi' two balanced cylindrical valves, the larger or mainvalve being steam, moved by means ot' one or two pistons attached to thevalverod, but which are located Within separate cylinders, upon one orboth ends of the steamchest, the main valve being midway distant betweenthese cylinders, and the smaller or auxiliary valve which admits steamalternately to one or more cylinders and pistons, being worked byatrip-rod, the trip-rod being worked in opposite directions by thealternate action of the piston. It also consists in forming, by means ofthe main valve, two separate independent eXhanst-chambers within thesteam- The results therefore attained by this in vention are, that cams,eccentrics, tappets, fly-wheels, starting-bars, or any other device usedto overcome the dead-center, are dispensed with, except a trip-rod tomove the auxiliary valve.

In the drawing, FigureI represents a longitudinal section of my improvedvalve in position on the cylinder; Fig. II is a modilication of thevalve; Fig. III is a central cross-section of Fig. I; and Fig. IV is aplan view of the auxiliary valve and the ports.

A represents a steam-chest; B, aA main steam-cylinder; C D, twosteam-chest cylinders, one upon either end of the chest but each castseparately therefrom, and divided from it by means of two steam-tightpartitions, E E, these two cylinders also being arranged upon the saineplane with the steamchest. Within the chest is a steam-moved,

balanced, cylindrical main valve, F, and there is also upon both ends ofthe valve-rod G, within each of the cylinders C D, a piston, H H, whichnecessarily operates the main valve, so that it opens the ports ct bwhich supply steam to the large or main steam-cylinder B. The passageswhichsupply steam to the two cylinders containing the pistons whichoperate the main valve are controlled by a balanced, cylindrica'l,auxiliary valve, I, attached to a triprod, K, which, in the dra-wing, isshown as placed between two cylinders, so that the triprod will be movedin opposite directions by the alternate action of two pistons; but it isobviousthat by an extension of the auxiliary valve two trips may be soarranged as to be operated by every stroke of a single piston. In Fig.Il there is shown a modification of the valve motion, so that the mainvalve may be Worked by a single piston. A description of this feature isdeemed unnecessary, it being so clearly shown in the drawing, the onlydistinction being that in the modification two steam-passages, 1 2,enter a single cylinder; whereas, in the other form of construction asteam-passage enters each of the cylinders upon either end of thesteam-chest. Steam is conducted into the steam-chest through thesteam-pipe f, and to the auxiliary valve through the steam-passage u..vIn describing the ports and passages of the steam-chest and cylinder, itis necessary to understand the piston of the main steam-cylinder to beat its lower stroke, and that it has moved the triprod and thrown theauxiliary valve, which opens the passage c, and admits steam to thecylinder` D. Simultaneously the steam-passage d is opened, which allowsthe steam to escape from the cylinder C through an un seen passage intothe main exhaust, and thereby the main valve is moved. This opens theport b and admits steam into the lower part of the main cylinder; atthis time the portais opened, so that the steam in the upper end of themain steam-cylinderB is permitted to escape through the exhaust-port min the steam-chest into the main exhaust. An 11p-stroke of the pistonwill cause the steam-ports and passageswhich upon the down stroke wereopened to the steam--to be opened to the exhaust, and those which ywerelast time opened to the exhaust to be the next time opened to thesteam.-

The arrangement of the valves and pistons l inecach end of theysteam-chest. This is bein this invention, as will be seen, is such thatthey'all move in the same direction at the same time; therefore it is adirect-acting valvemotion, which is also anti-friction, because both thevalves are perfectly balanced. The main steam-port is always open tostart, no matter where the piston stops in the main steam-cylinder;therefore starting-bars are unnecessary. The main valve is steam-movedand the auxiliary valve is mechanically moved but neither valve issteam-set, thereby rendering the valve-motion certain in its action.This motion can be thoroughly governed in its speed by the throttle,because the main valve always throws instantly a full port, therebysecuring the full effect of all the steam which passes through thethrottle. The main valve can never be in a position to stop on thecenter, because one port is always open to the steam wheneverI the otheris open to the exhaust. rlhe dead-center is destroyed because all theports are always open, and none of them are ever closed, except for animperceptible movement while the valve is changing position. This doesnot affect the movement ofthe main cylinder pistonin the least, becausethe valve bein g independent and instantaneously steammoved, is bound tocomplete its stroke when once started. Whenever the steam is let onuncertain in its action. The main valve itself forms a regularindependent exhaust-chamber lieved to be a very important-a salientfeature of this invention-because they keep a perfect vacuum at bothends of the valve at the same time, whereby the valve moves without friction or compression.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a balanced steam moved main valve, F, operated byone or more pistons, H H, witha balanced auxiliary valve, I, operated bya trip-rod, K, substan tially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the ports a b with the steam-passages o d a andthe exhaust-ports m, for operating the main and auxiliary valves,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of the main valve with the steam-chest, constructedso as to form in the chest two regular and independent eX- Ahaust-chambers. l In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our handsand seals in the city of Cleveland, in the State of Ohio, this 18th dayof November, 1872, each in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN W. GARDNER. [1.. s]

THOMAS W. RANSON. L. s] EDWIN MARTIN. L. s]

Witnesses:

J. A. BYRNE,

R. E. MIX.

